Keep parks clean

Littering or the improper throwing of garbage is prohibited and punishable by law.

Section 48 of Republic Act 9003 or the Solid Waste Management Act prohibits “littering, throwing, dumping of waste matters in public places, such as roads, sidewalks, canals, esteros or parks, and establishment, or causing or permitting the same.”

A person violating this provision shall be charged with a fine of not less than P300,000 but more than P1,000. He or she should also render at least one day of community service or not more than 15 days of service to the local government.

The same actions are also prohibited under the Anti-Littering Law or the MMDA Regulation No. 96-009.

Here, it is specified that even “urinating, defecating, spitting in a public place” and “spilling, scattering, littering of wastes by public utility vehicles” are strictly illegal.

Fines range from P500 to P1,000 while the hours of community service to be rendered range from eight hours to two days.